Please join us in Willington Gravel Pits Nature Reserve
On Saturday 22nd September @ 09:30am
With the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Come along and earn a souvenir for CITO week and give a little back to the community.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust are holding a special working party for us on the 22nd Septermber. We plan to meet at 9:30 for a 10am start. Finish time will be approx 14:00.
CITO Task
We will be clearing small willow saplings from reed beds to allow the nesting sittes to flourish. We will be working under the superivsion of the Local Wildlife Officer who is responsible for this nature reserve.
Please bring wellies as the ground underfoot may be damp. Children are welcome to attend and should be under adult supervision at all times.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust will provide all the tools and equipment for each task and PPE such as work gloves.
You will need to wear appropriate clothing for the task and weather and bring a packed lunch, drinks etc.
Due to the task wellies are a must, long sleeved tops are advised due to the risk of scratches but are not essential. We stop for breaks and lunch and everyone is encouraged to work at their own pace and take additional breaks as needed. If you have any health issues that may affect you whilst volunteering out on site please do let the team leader know at the start of the day and we do have sign-in sheets where we will ask for an emergency contact for the day too. We carry out all necessary risk assessments for the sites and tasks and our leaders are first aid trained.
If on the day it is rainy please wear waterproofs, if sunny, sun cream and other necessary clothing.
About Willington Gravel Pits
This former gravel quarry in the Trent Valley is teeming with bird life all year round, from ducks in winter to sand martins and common terns in summer. Dragonflies and damselflies are plentiful here too.
This former sand and gravel quarry provides a haven for wildlife in the Trent Valley.
The flooded gravel pits form an important wetland habitat attracting many rare birds in addition to a variety of more common species.
The reserve is particularly important for its wetland habitats, from open water to reed bed. The shingle and grass islands provide a refuge for birds and are ideal for breeding waders.
The reed along the edges of the pools and in the old silt lagoon is home to a range of species and the grassland and duck marsh provide rich feeding for many species and breeding cover for others.
All year round the reserve is rich in bird life. In winter, large flocks of wildfowl gather, including wigeon, teal, pochard and shoveler.
In early spring, curlew gather on the wet grassland before they head north to their breeding grounds. During spring and autumn up to 20 species of wader pass through. Among the birds that breed at Willington are sand martins, lapwings and common tern.
Birds of prey also visit the reserve - these include peregrine, kestrel, hobby and sparrowhawk, as well as the very occasional marsh harrier. In recent winters, bittern has been seen at the reserve.
In addition to birds, Willington's wetlands also attract several species of dragonfly and damselfy as well as otters. The conditions suit water plants such as short-leaved water starwort.